Artificial Heart
For the end stage heart disease patients who die waiting for transplantation,
success in development of artificial heart is the only hope that so
far is not fulfilled in spite of the 5 decades and billions of dollars
spent. We have achieved a breakthrough
in the search of the artificial heart. Our device is the only one
which functions just like the natural heart yet is small enough to
be totally implantable. The search for an Ideal artificial
heart is on for more than 50 years. The Kolff, Liotta, Jarvic-7 and
similar pneumatic devices and their electrical counterparts were not
acceptable due to their size whereas the continuous flow devices and
unnatural pulse devices like Abiocor and Pennstate-3M are not acceptable
due to the unphysiological function in addition to the other disadvantages.
The following table summarises the properties of the devices and comparison
with our device.
| Desired
features in Ideal Total Artificial Heart. |
Our Device |
Abiocor,
Pennstate-3M. |
Jarvic7 And other
Similar devices. |
Continuous flow devices.
|
| Pulsatile Function.
|
YES |
YES |
YES |
NO |
| Physiologic
Pulse. |
YES |
NO |
YES |
NO |
| Totally Implantable
|
YES |
YES |
NO |
???? |
| Minimum number of
moving parts per ventricle on which life depends. |
YES |
NO |
NO |
???? |
| Total range of mobility
possible. |
YES |
YES |
NO |
???? |
| Heaviest work possible.
|
YES |
NO |
NO |
???? |
| Intact Skin |
YES |
YES |
NO |
???? |
Key features of our prototype artificial heart
- Physiological pulsatile flows - just like the natural heart.
- Small enough to be totally implantable.
- Single moving part per ventricle on which life critically depends.
Therefore life long performance is expected [25 to 30 years].
- High flows and pressures possible to be able to carry out even
very heavy work. Therefore suitable even for hard working farmer.
- No skin puncture. Energy transfer by induction. So no infection.
Performance of our device:
Our Device gives natural pulsatile flow at 80 beats per minute with
a systole of 250 milliseconds and diastole of 500 milliseconds which
can be varied as per requirement. On right side it gives a flow of
7 liters per minute @ 15 to 25 mm. Of Hg. On left side it gives a
flow of 7 liters per minute @ 120 mm of Hg. The maximum flow achieved
is 21 liters per minute @ 210 mm. of Hg. We are currently in the process
of making further improvements in the device.
Work Done:
- Prototype development with available materials.
- Fluid mechanics trials on the prototype to determine the performance.
Present Stage:
- CFD Analysis.
- Further improvements.
- Fabrication in biocompatible materials.
Work to be done:
- Animal trials.
- Clinical trials.
Thus our device is the only hope to save the lives for the end stage
heart disease patients and animal trial is one step further towards
that goal. |
